Device for indicating the direction of the ground wind to aviators



Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,086

A. G. WATSON DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE DIRECTION OF THE GROUND WIND T0 AVIATORS Filed August 51, 21 I .9! 1 1. gt 6 hl b e I] i h, A #VI/ENTOQ A TTOPA/E V Patented v. 2, 1926,

ALFRED GEORGE WATSQN,

015 BRENTFORD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN GAS ACCUMULATOR COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

DEVICE FORINDICATING THE DIRECTION OF THE GROUIN WIND T0 AVIATORS.

Application filed August 31, 1921, Serial No.

The object of this'invention is to provide means for indicating at night or day to aviators the direction of the wind at the ground level, at any chosen position or locality such 5 as an aerodrome or landing place.

For thispurpose, a vane of .such formation as to be easily seen from .above is mounted to turn about a vertical axis according to the direction of the wind and means are provided for efiectively illuminating the surface on surfaces of the vane that are visible from above. 3

The invention may be carried out. in various ways but in order that it may be more clearly understood one arrangement will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,

elevation and Fig. 2 a plan. In this example the vane a is of T shape in plan and mounted to swing about a vertical axis. The vane comprises arms which project from a turntable b' or similar device mounted on ball bearings 0 on a post or pillar d. The arms constituting the vane are connected to the turntable at their inner ends by brackets e and their outer ends are supported by stays 7 which extend from the turntable or from near its lower ball bearing on the post or pillar. Above the post (1 and in alinement with the axis of rotation of the turn-table is a suitable light source, for instance an acetylene gas burner 9' that may be supplied with gas through the post or pillar d, which is hollow, and a protecting lantern casing, fitted with lenses h or reflectors or both, is carried by the turntable b, the arrangement being such as to cause adequate illumination of the upper surfaces of the T-shaped vane in all positions.

The supporting post or pillar (1 may be mounted on a hollow base or chamber 12 for containing the gas supply cylinders.

In order to efiect proper illumination of the top surfaces of the arms of the vane a or to increase the illumina ion thereof it is preferable that the angle between the said arms and the lenses or lens structures interposed between the light source and the said arms should be more or less acute so that the so rays transmitted through the lenses or the lensructures will strike or impinge upon surfaces of the said arms at angles.

"example of theconstruction embodying the invention as illustrated the lens is structures of the lantern are inclined so in which Fig. 1 is a sectional 497,194, and in Great Britain September arace.

that they occupy positions in planes at acute angles to a horizontal plane and each of the said lens structures is provided with a reflecting hood it.

The trunk or tail member of the vane is providedwith a rudder z usually of splayed or swallow tail form in plan and depending from the outer portion of its trunk, but it may be actuated by a wind wheel carried by the turntable-or by a separately mounted vane, wind wheel or thelike geared to it.

For the sake of lightness the members may be made in the form of a tubular metal framework over which canvas is laced; and, to enable the vane to be seen more easil from low elevations a fin a of say aluminum sheet is fitted above the canvas uponv the trunk or tail member of the vane.

The indicating vane will be visible by day' on account of its distinctive form and colour and at night owing to the light within the lantern being projected on to its upper surfaces; the light may be caused to flash or occult if found desirable. The device is self. contained and capable of o crating automatically and without attention for long periods.

The T-shaped vane held by the action of the wind with the trunk or tail of the vane extending in a direction substantially parallel with the direction of the wind and with the relatively short arms thereof substantially at right angles thereto resembles the existing international sign for indicat- "ing the direction of the round wind and is therefore a convenient orm but any other suitable formation may be adopted. 7

What I claim is 1. Means for indicating the direction of the ground wind to aviators including, in

combination, a vane comprisinga plurality of members arranged in T-shaped relation to each other and in a substantially horizontal plane, one of said members carrying upwardly projecting means adapted to 1ncrease the visibility of the said, vane from relatively lowaltitudes, a light source, and lenses interposed between, said light sourceand the said members for concentrating rays of light from said light source upon the top surfaces of said members.

2. Means for indicating the direction of the ground wind to aviators including, in combination, a vane comprising a plurality of members arrang in T-shaped relation no I to each other and in a substantially horizontal plane, the tail member of said vane being provided with a longitudinally extendingvertical fin upon its upper side, means for rotatably supporting saidvane, the rotation thereof being in a substantially horizontal plane, a light source located above the plane of the said vane and in substantial alinement with the axis of rotation thereof, and lenses interposed between the said light sourceand the said members, the

planes of the said lenses forming with the planes of the said members acute angles.

3. Means for indicating the direction of the ground wind to aviators, comprising in combination a stationary casing, a rotatable supporting member mounted on the top of said casing, a vane having connection with said rotatable support, a burner situated upon the axis of rotation of said support andv in a plane above the plane of the said vane, means situated within thesaid' combination a vane having a plurality of members radiating from a central point, means for rotatably supporting said vane, a light source situated in the axis of rotation of said rotatable supporting means and in a planeabove the plane ofthe said vane, lenses interposed between the said light source and the members of said vane, the planes of said lenses and of the said vane being arranged at acute angles with respect.

to each other, and reflecting hoods partial- 1y surrounding each of said lenses and extending outwardly in directions toward the outer ends of the members of said vane.

5. Means 'for indicating the direction of the ground Wind to aviators, in combination, a vane comprising a plurality of members arranged in T-shaped relation to each othernthe ta'il member of said vane having a rudder at its outer end whereby theblowing of the wind automatically causes the said vane to change its position to indicate the direction from which the wind is blowing and said tail member also having a 1ongitudially extending vertical fin upon its upper side, means for rotatably mounting the said vane, and means for illuminating the top surfaces of the members thereof.

Signed at London, Englandthis 11th day of August 1921.

ALFRED GEORGE WATSON 

